AG Mukasey is demanding that Congress issue a new declaration of war

I just received this action alert from the ACLU. If you're not an ACLU fan, don't shoot the messenger. This is yet another power grab by the Bush administration designed to cover up its unconstitutional torture and detention policies.

This sounds so outrageous, it seems like a joke or something out of "The Onion."

Attorney General Michael Mukasey is demanding that Congress issue a new declaration of war so that anyone that this president or the next one declares to be an "enemy combatant" can be held indefinitely without a trial.

The new declaration of war would make the entire globe — including the United States itself — a “battlefield” where the president decides who will be locked up forever.

With only four weeks left in the Congressional schedule and only six months left in the Bush presidency, Mukasey’s ridiculous power grab should be laughed out of town. But given this Congress’ track record, the Mukasey proposal is no laughing matter. Especially because it also includes a cover-up of the Bush administration’s systemic torture and abuse of detainees.

We can’t take for granted that Congress will reject this outrageous proposal. We have to meet it with an immediate wall of protest that says to Congress: “Don’t you dare.”

I just told my members of Congress to reject the dangerous Bush/Mukasey plan. You can do the same thing here:

I just sent mine! I can't believe that he would do this, but not surprised. I was just talking about a party that many people fear that Bush will try for a power grab because of 'terrorist' activity. As base as that is, I couldn't put it past this administration that claims to have morals but has none.

I just sent mine! I can't believe that he would do this, but not surprised. I was just talking about a party that many people fear that Bush will try for a power grab because of 'terrorist' activity. As base as that is, I couldn't put it past this administration that claims to have morals but has none.

John43620 saidXruggerATX, of course you have no fear of suicide bombers, they aren't in Texas, yet.

And just how are these authoritarian power grabs going to prevent this from happening, anyway? Harebrained schemes like this aren't designed to fight "The War on Terror;" they are a mechanism by which the executive seeks to become more despotic.

John43620 saidXruggerATX, of course you have no fear of suicide bombers, they aren't in Texas, yet.

And just how are these authoritarian power grabs going to prevent this from happening, anyway? Harebrained schemes like this aren't designed to fight "The War on Terror;" they are a mechanism by which the executive seeks to become more despotic.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thank you for posting this !!!! this issue is about the most important reason for us to call our senators and congressmen to say VOTE NO !!!!! I understand that part of this request is that bush be given the power to declare those he deems as "enemy combatants" and with that would be approval of his not granting "habeaus Corpus" rights to clear themselves of the title "enemy combatants" This could be buss/Mukasey's way of coming through the back door to undue the Supreme Court Decision granting Guantonimo prisoners "Habeaus Corpus" rights. Talk about a power grab !!!! this guy is dangerous !!! If this is allowed we could easily become a police state over night on his whim !!! CALL TO OPPOSE THIS !!!!!!!!!!!

GQjock saidAn outgoing Presidency that will be known as the worst throughout all living history faced with being exposed as the liar that he was and isPossibly on the hook for war crimes?

Do you think he WON'T try bombing Iran?

Conventional conspiracy theorist wisdom has it that Bush would employ some form of demagoguery to justify the invasion of Iran. At that point, he would declare martial law and halt the fall elections. Not sure how plausible that is, but given this administration's track record and its lust for power, anything is possible.

BTW, here is the response I received from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's office (the only representative to respond, thus far):

Dear Mr. ********:

Thank you for writing me regarding a declaration of war by Congress. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.

Our Constitution empowers only Congress to declare war. However, it was well understood by the framers of our Constitution that governments can make war without a formal declaration. Although the Constitution empowers Congress to "declare war," a declaration of war has been used in only five military conflicts: the War of 1812, the Mexican War of 1846, the Spanish-American War of 1898, World War I, and World War II.

America's present action involves no war against a specific nation, but rather a group of people who are attacking us at home and around the world. The President relies on the existence of independent, implied, and inherent powers for the necessary efforts required to aid in the effective identification of these terrorists to punish them and those who aid them.

On September 14, 2001, Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing President Bush to use all necessary and appropriate force against those who committed, or aided in, the September 11th terrorist attacks. The joint resolution resolves, for now, any question about the President's constitutional authority to use military force in response to the terrorist attacks. Whatever inherent or constitutionally specified authority he already possessed has now been buttressed by congressional authorization. [emphasis mine]

I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.

GQjock saidAn outgoing Presidency that will be known as the worst throughout all living history faced with being exposed as the liar that he was and isPossibly on the hook for war crimes?

Do you think he WON'T try bombing Iran?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GQjock, I definately agree with your Posts !!! We can only hope that he will be held accountable for his crimes, I'm just not sure there are enough with the will to do it. However, have you read about the Law professor at a Law school in the northeast who has set up a workshop of Law professionals who are to meet this fall with the specific purpose of finding a way to charge bush and his chronies with crimes and to see that they are punished. If you haven't heard of this let me know and i'll look up the story again and get the site name for you. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>As for going to war with Iran, I am very fearfull that they will go to war with them and if so, look for our economic troubles to multiply many times over. There are many generals who are dead set against this, and many other middle eastern experts who are warning against such an action. My god I hope this is stopped !!!

On September 14, 2001, Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing President Bush to use all necessary and appropriate force against those who committed, or aided in, the September 11th terrorist attacks. The joint resolution resolves, for now, any question about the President's constitutional authority to use military force in response to the terrorist attacks. Whatever inherent or constitutionally specified authority he already possessed has now been buttressed by congressional authorization. [emphasis mine]

I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,Kay Bailey HutchisonUnited States Senator

284 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510202-224-5922 (tel)202-224-0776 (fax)http://hutchison.senate.gov[/quote]>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ruck-us --- I take it that this response is saying that congress has given him the authority he needs to go to war where he (bush) feels necessary to fight terrorism. But she doesn't come out and say that no she is not for an actual declaration of war. Are you reading this the same way as i am?

stonecoldfoxboy saidWhat a misleading headline/subject line. No one is "demanding" anything. Almost everyone on this list has given into left-wing hysteria. Everyone needs to stop acting like this chick: